Therm-a-Rest invented the self-inflating sleeping mat in the 1970s, and it’s dominated the market ever since. The NeoAir X Therm Max delivers the greatest warmth-to-weight ratio in its range and features reflective material inside to capture radiant heat. It’s also full size, but it still packs down to just 12 x 19cm and weighs a decent 502g. 5/5

Size

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir X Therm Max is a full size (183cm long x 51cm wide x 6.3cm thick) mat with no tapering at the head or foot. If you are slight in size you may feel you don’t need all that room, but for average users it means you won’t slip off it too easily. The thickness of 6.3cm means it can easily soften very jagged terrain. 5/5

Comfort

On rocky ground the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir X Therm Max is very comfy as it provides great cushioning and is also thick enough to smooth out the lumps and hollows of a rough surface. It has an R value of 5.7, meaning it has a higher resistance to heat loss than other mats in the range with lower R values. In short it will keep you warm! 5/5

In use

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir X Therm Max inflates easily and due to a slightly textured top layer you don’t slide around too much. It’s also a little less crinkly and noisy than some but still not the quietest offering. The weight of 502g is high, but it does pack down small to 12x19cm and easily fits inside a pack. 4/5

Value

The price is quite high because you’re paying for extra thickness and the use of reflective ThermaCapture technology inside; but do you really need it? 3/5

Verdict

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir X Therm Max is a superb sleeping mat if maximum comfort and low weight are what you need, but the price may keep you awake at night. It wins Trail’s ‘approved’ accolade. 4.4/5